§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give instructions to immigration staff at ports of entry to facilitate the onward passage of persons arriving in the United Kingdom in transit even if they do not have valid entry documents and to ensure that such persons depart for their eventual destination for which they have a valid ticket.
§ Mr. Peter LloydCurrent instructions require immigration officers to allow a transit passenger to proceed with his onward destination; and where the passenger falls to be refused leave to enter the United Kingdom, to remove him to his onward destination where this is practicable and lawful. Persons refused entry can be removed to an onward destination only if there is reason to believe that they will be admitted to that country otherwise they are sent back whence they came or to their country of origin.
§ Mr. ShersbyTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to facilitate the photographing and fingerprinting of asylum seekers before they depart from ports and airports overseas en route for the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydNone. There is no power to require people overseas to be photographed or fingerprinted. Persons already in this country who seek asylum are required to provide photographs of themselves, and we are considering what further powers may be needed to fingerprint asylum seekers in this country.
§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service following his statement of 2 July; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter LloydThe United Kingdom Immigrants Advisory Service wrote to me on 21 August explaining why it opposed the proposals on green form legal aid included in the statement of 2 July. I responded on 7 October and hope to meet representatives from the organisation shortly to discuss their concerns further.